Interest Rate Risk - AGM Operating Segment AGM’s primary market risk exposure arises from fluctuations in its borrowing and lending rates, the spread between which could impact AGM due to shifts in market interest rates.
Interest Rate Risk - AGM Operating Segment AGM’s primary market risk exposure arises from fluctuations in its lending and borrowing rates, the spread between which could impact AGM due to shifts in market interest rates.
As a result, for loans where the borrower rate is fixed to term, the Company may earn floor income for an extended period of time, which the Company refers to as fixed rate floor income, and for those loans where the borrower rate is reset 72 annually on July 1, the Company may earn floor income to the next reset date, which the Company refers to as variable rate floor income.
As a result, for loans where the borrower rate is fixed to term, the Company may earn floor income for an extended period of time, which the Company refers to as fixed-rate floor income, and for those loans where the borrower rate is reset annually on July 1, the Company may earn floor income to the next reset date, which the Company refers to as variable-rate floor income.
(d) Interest incurred by the Company on amounts that were borrowed under repurchase agreements were at a variable rate of SOFR + 100 to 140 basis points. 75 The Company’s portfolio of asset-backed investment securities has limited liquidity, and the Company could incur a significant loss if the investments were sold prior to maturity at an amount less than the original purchase price.
(d) Interest incurred by the Company on amounts that were borrowed under repurchase agreements was at a variable rate of SOFR + 100 to 140 basis points. 66 The Company’s portfolio of asset-backed investment securities has limited liquidity, and the Company could incur a significant loss if the investments were sold prior to maturity at an amount less than the original purchase price.
The sensitivity analysis was performed assuming the funding index changes 10 basis points and 30 basis points while holding the asset index constant, if the funding index is different than the asset index.
The sensitivity analysis was performed assuming the funding index increases 10 basis points and 30 basis points while holding the asset index constant, if the funding index is different than the asset index.
The derivatives are not reflected in the above table. See note 5 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements included in this report for a summary of Nelnet Bank's derivatives outstanding as of December 31, 2024.
The derivatives are not reflected in the above table. See note 6 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included in this report for a summary of Nelnet Bank's derivatives outstanding as of December 31, 2025.
Asset and funding index mismatches Increase of 10 basis points Increase of 30 basis points Increase of 10 basis points Increase of 30 basis points Dollars Percent Dollars Percent Dollars Percent Dollars Percent Year ended December 31, 2024 Year ended December 31, 2023 Effect on earnings: Increase (decrease) in pre-tax net income before impact of derivative settlements $ (3,480) (1.5) % $ (10,437) (4.6) % $ (4,564) (6.2) % $ (13,692) (18.4) % Impact of derivative settlements 1,835 0.8 5,505 2.4 3,150 4.2 9,450 12.7 Increase (decrease) in net income before taxes $ (1,645) (0.7) % $ (4,932) (2.2) % $ (1,414) (2.0) % $ (4,242) (5.7) % Increase (decrease) in basic and diluted earnings per share $ (0.03) $ (0.10) $ (0.03) $ (0.09) 74 Interest Rate Risk - Nelnet Bank To manage Nelnet Bank's risk from fluctuations in market interest rates, the Company actively monitors interest rates and other interest sensitive components to minimize the impact that changes in interest rates have on the fair value of assets, net income, and cash flow.
Asset and funding index mismatches Increase of 10 basis points Increase of 30 basis points Increase of 10 basis points Increase of 30 basis points Dollars Percent Dollars Percent Dollars Percent Dollars Percent Year ended December 31, 2025 Year ended December 31, 2024 Effect on earnings: Increase (decrease) in pre-tax net income before impact of derivative settlements $ (3,125) (0.6) % $ (9,373) (1.8) % $ (3,480) (1.5) % $ (10,437) (4.6) % Impact of derivative settlements 1,400 0.3 4,201 0.8 1,835 0.8 5,505 2.4 Increase (decrease) in net income before taxes $ (1,725) (0.3) % $ (5,172) (1.0) % $ (1,645) (0.7) % $ (4,932) (2.2) % Increase (decrease) in basic and diluted earnings per share $ (0.04) $ (0.11) $ (0.03) $ (0.10) 65 Interest Rate Risk - Nelnet Bank To manage Nelnet Bank's risk from fluctuations in market interest rates, the Company actively monitors interest rates and other interest sensitive components to minimize the impact that changes in interest rates have on the fair value of assets, net income, and cash flow.
(b) Impact associated with variable rate loans and debt securities (investments) and variable rate deposits, including the impact of derivative settlements. (c) Impact associated with variable rate debt securities (investments) and debt facilities used to fund a portion of such investments. (d) Impact associated with interest earning operating and restricted cash accounts.
(b) Impact associated with variable-rate loans and debt securities (investments) and variable-rate deposits, including the impact of derivative settlements. (c) Impact associated with variable-rate debt securities (investments). (d) Impact associated with interest earning operating and restricted cash accounts.
(b) The majority of the Company’s asset-backed securities earn floating rates with expected returns of approximately SOFR + 100 to 350 basis points to maturity. As of December 31, 2024, $226.1 million (par value) of the Company’s asset-backed securities earn a weighted average fixed rate of 3.60%.
(b) The majority of the Company’s asset-backed securities earn floating rates with expected returns of approximately SOFR + 50 to 350 basis points to maturity. As of December 31, 2025, $229.0 million (par value) of the Company’s asset-backed securities earn a weighted-average fixed rate of 3.87%.
The following table sets forth AGM’s loan assets and debt instruments by rate characteristics: As of December 31, 2024 As of December 31, 2023 Dollars Percent Dollars Percent Fixed-rate loan assets $ 814,843 9.1 % $ 510,666 4.2 % Variable-rate loan assets 8,141,025 90.9 11,538,796 95.8 Total $ 8,955,868 100.0 % $ 12,049,462 100.0 % Fixed-rate debt instruments $ 399,994 4.8 % $ 561,557 4.8 % Variable-rate debt instruments 7,958,357 95.2 11,142,596 95.2 Total $ 8,358,351 100.0 % $ 11,704,153 100.0 % FFELP loans originated prior to April 1, 2006 generally earn interest at the higher of the borrower rate, which is fixed over a period of time, or a floating rate based on the special allowance payment (SAP) formula set by the Department.
The following table sets forth AGM’s loan assets and debt instruments by rate characteristics: As of December 31, 2025 As of December 31, 2024 Dollars Percent Dollars Percent Fixed-rate loan assets $ 1,611,772 18.5 % $ 814,843 9.1 % Variable-rate loan assets 7,087,397 81.5 8,141,025 90.9 Total $ 8,699,169 100.0 % $ 8,955,868 100.0 % Fixed-rate debt instruments $ 331,404 4.2 % $ 399,994 4.8 % Variable-rate debt instruments 7,490,065 95.8 7,958,357 95.2 Total $ 7,821,469 100.0 % $ 8,358,351 100.0 % FFELP loans originated prior to April 1, 2006 generally earn interest at the higher of the borrower rate, which is fixed over a period of time, or a floating rate based on the special allowance payment (SAP) formula set by the Department.
Interest rates Change from increase of 100 basis points Change from increase of 300 basis points Change from decrease of 100 basis points Change from decrease of 300 basis points Dollars Percent Dollars Percent Dollars Percent Dollars Percent Year ended December 31, 2024 Effect on earnings: AGM Operating Segment (a) $ 6,507 $ 25,369 $ 1,186 $ 12,374 Nelnet Bank Operating Segment (b) (542) (1,627) 542 1,627 NFS Other Operating Segments (c) 5,837 17,512 (5,837) (17,512) ETSP Operating Segment (d) 5,932 17,795 (5,932) (17,795) Corporate and Other Activities (d) 1,026 3,077 (1,026) (3,077) Increase (decrease) in net income before taxes $ 18,760 8.2 % 62,126 27.2 % (11,067) (4.8) % (24,383) (10.7) % Increase (decrease) in basic and diluted earnings per share $ 0.39 $ 1.29 $ (0.23) $ (0.51) (a) Impact associated with variable rate loans and variable rate bonds and notes payable, including the impact of derivative settlements.
Consolidated Sensitivity Analysis The following table summarizes the effect on the Company’s consolidated earnings, based upon a sensitivity analysis performed on the Company’s significant interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities assuming hypothetical increases and decreases in interest rates of 100 basis points and 300 basis points, while funding spreads remain constant: Interest rates Change from increase of 100 basis points Change from increase of 300 basis points Change from decrease of 100 basis points Change from decrease of 300 basis points Dollars Percent Dollars Percent Dollars Percent Dollars Percent Year ended December 31, 2025 Effect on earnings: AGM operating segment (a) $ 1,665 $ 17,117 $ 2,913 $ 18,221 Nelnet Bank operating segment (b) 1,553 4,657 (1,553) (4,657) NFS other operating segments (c) 4,918 14,755 (4,918) (14,755) ETSP operating segment (d) 6,150 18,449 (6,150) (18,449) Corporate and Other Activities (d) 1,216 3,649 (1,216) (3,649) Increase (decrease) in net income before taxes $ 15,502 2.9 % $ 58,627 11.1 % $ (10,924) (2.1) % $ (23,289) (4.4) % Increase (decrease) in basic and diluted earnings per share $ 0.32 $ 1.23 $ (0.23) $ (0.49) Year ended December 31, 2024 Effect on earnings: AGM operating segment (a) $ 6,507 $ 25,369 $ 1,186 $ 12,374 Nelnet Bank operating segment (b) (542) (1,627) 542 1,627 NFS other operating segments (c) 5,837 17,512 (5,837) (17,512) ETSP operating segment (d) 5,932 17,795 (5,932) (17,795) Corporate and Other Activities (d) 1,026 3,077 (1,026) (3,077) Increase (decrease) in net income before taxes $ 18,760 8.2 % $ 62,126 27.2 % $ (11,067) (4.8) % $ (24,383) (10.7) % Increase (decrease) in basic and diluted earnings per share $ 0.39 $ 1.29 $ (0.23) $ (0.51) (a) Impact associated with variable-rate restricted cash, variable-rate loans, and variable-rate bonds and notes payable, including the impact of derivative settlements.
Year ended December 31, 2024 2023 Fixed rate floor income, gross $ 1,249 2,169 Derivative settlements (a) 4,288 23,044 Fixed rate floor income, net $ 5,537 25,213 (a) Derivative settlements consist of settlements received related to the Company's derivatives used to hedge student loans earning fixed rate floor income.
A summary of fixed-rate floor income earned by the AGM operating segment follows: Year ended December 31, 2025 2024 Fixed-rate floor income, gross $ 4,309 1,249 Derivative settlements (a) 1,475 4,288 Fixed-rate floor income, net $ 5,784 5,537 (a) Derivative settlements consist of settlements received related to the Company's derivatives used to hedge student loans earning fixed-rate floor income.
(b) The interest rate on the Company's FFELP warehouse facilities is indexed to asset-backed commercial paper rates and daily SOFR. (c) As of December 31, 2024, the Company was sponsor for $36.4 million of outstanding asset-backed securities that were set and provide for interest rates to be periodically reset via a "dutch auction" (the “Auction Rate Securities”).
(c) As of December 31, 2025, the Company was sponsor for $24.2 million of outstanding asset-backed securities that were set and provide for interest rates to be periodically reset via a "dutch auction" (the “Auction Rate Securities”).
The following table shows AGM’s federally insured student loan assets that were earning fixed rate floor income as of December 31, 2024: Fixed interest rate range Borrower/lender weighted average yield Estimated variable conversion rate (a) Loan balance 7.0 - 7.49% 7.38% 4.74% $ 612 7.5 - 7.99% 7.79% 5.15% 63,377 8.0 - 8.99% 8.18% 5.54% 213,173 > 9.0% 9.06% 6.42% 90,280 $ 367,442 (a) The estimated variable conversion rate is the estimated short-term interest rate at which loans would convert to a variable rate.
The Company earned no variable-rate floor income in 2025 or 2024. 63 The following table shows AGM’s federally insured student loan assets that were earning fixed-rate floor income as of December 31, 2025: Fixed interest rate range Borrower/lender weighted-average yield Estimated variable conversion rate (a) Loan balance 6.5 - 6.99% 6.76% 4.12% $ 13,032 7.0 - 7.49% 7.16% 4.52% 42,294 7.5 - 7.99% 7.72% 5.08% 79,456 8.0 - 8.99% 8.18% 5.54% 194,146 > 9.0% 9.06% 6.42% 82,037 $ 410,965 (a) The estimated variable conversion rate is the estimated short-term interest rate at which loans would convert to a variable rate.
Year ended December 31, 2024 2023 Average balance Interest income/ expense Average yields/ rates Average balance Interest income/ expense Average yields/ rates Investments: Asset-backed securities available-for-sale (a) (b) $ 783,806 49,325 6.28 % $ 985,367 62,209 6.31 % Debt funding asset-backed securities available-for-sale: Participation agreement - variable rate (c) $ 4,335 261 6.00 % $ 115,420 6,207 5.38 % Repurchases agreements - variable rate (d) 101,905 7,035 6.88 381,378 23,540 6.17 $ 106,240 7,296 6.85 $ 496,798 29,747 5.99 (a) The Company has repurchased certain of its own asset-backed securities (bonds and notes payable) in the secondary market.
Year ended December 31, 2025 2024 Average balance Interest income/ expense Average yields/ rates Average balance Interest income/ expense Average yields/ rates Investments: Asset-backed securities available-for-sale (a) (b) $ 718,811 40,556 5.64 % $ 783,806 49,325 6.28 % Debt funding asset-backed securities available-for-sale: Participation agreement - variable rate (c) $ 971 50 5.15 % $ 4,335 261 6.00 % Repurchase agreements - variable rate (d) — — — 101,905 7,035 6.88 $ 971 50 5.15 $ 106,240 7,296 6.85 (a) The Company has repurchased certain of its own asset-backed securities (bonds and notes payable) in the secondary market or retained such instruments upon initial issuance.
The Company entered into these derivative instruments to better match the interest rate characteristics on its student loan assets and the debt funding such assets. The following table summarizes the 1:3 Basis Swaps outstanding as of December 31, 2024.
The Company entered into these derivative instruments to better match the interest rate characteristics on its student loan assets and the debt funding such assets.
The following table presents Nelnet Bank's loan assets, asset-backed security investments, and deposits (including intercompany deposits) by rate characteristics: As of December 31, 2024 As of December 31, 2023 Dollars Percent Dollars Percent Fixed-rate loan assets $ 505,539 $ 424,284 Fixed-rate investments 90,303 34,644 Total fixed-rate assets 595,842 42.8 % 458,928 47.7 % Variable-rate loan assets 139,058 8,588 Variable-rate investments 656,794 495,004 Total variable rate assets 795,852 57.2 503,592 52.3 Total assets $ 1,391,694 100.0 % $ 962,520 100.0 % Fixed-rate deposits $ 449,706 35.8 % $ 280,736 33.1 % Variable-rate deposits (a) 804,916 64.2 566,828 66.9 Total deposits $ 1,254,622 100.0 % $ 847,564 100.0 % (a) Nelnet Bank uses derivative instruments to hedge exposure to variability in cash flows of variable rate deposits to minimize the exposure to volatility in cash flows from future changes in interest rates.
The following table presents Nelnet Bank's loan assets, asset-backed security investments, and deposits (including intercompany deposits) by rate characteristics: As of December 31, 2025 As of December 31, 2024 Dollars Percent Dollars Percent Fixed-rate loan assets $ 630,570 $ 505,539 Fixed-rate investments 83,020 90,303 Total fixed-rate assets 713,590 35.4 % 595,842 42.8 % Variable-rate loan assets 326,992 139,058 Variable-rate investments 975,268 656,794 Total variable-rate assets 1,302,260 64.6 795,852 57.2 Total assets $ 2,015,850 100.0 % $ 1,391,694 100.0 % Fixed-rate deposits $ 635,293 36.0 % $ 449,706 35.8 % Variable-rate deposits (a) 1,127,667 64.0 804,916 64.2 Total deposits $ 1,762,960 100.0 % $ 1,254,622 100.0 % (a) Nelnet Bank uses derivative instruments to hedge exposure to variability in cash flows of variable-rate deposits to minimize the exposure to volatility in cash flows from future changes in interest rates.
For accounting purposes, these notes are eliminated in consolidation and are not included in the Company's consolidated financial statements. However, these securities remain legally outstanding at the trust level and the Company could sell these notes to third parties or redeem the notes at par as cash is generated by the trust estate.
However, these securities remain legally outstanding at the trust level and the Company could sell these notes to third parties, redeem the notes at par as cash is generated by the trust estate, or pledge the securities as collateral on repurchase agreements.
In higher interest rate environments, where the interest rate rises above the borrower rate and fixed rate loans effectively become variable rate loans, the impact of the rate fluctuations is reduced. No variable rate floor income was earned by the Company in 2024 or 2023. A summary of fixed rate floor income earned by the AGM operating segment follows.
In higher interest rate environments, where the interest rate rises above the borrower rate and fixed-rate loans effectively become variable-rate loans, the impact of the rate fluctuations is reduced.
See note 6 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included in this report for additional information.
The Company currently has the intent and ability to retain these investments, and none of the unrealized losses were due to credit losses. See note 7 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included in this report for additional information.
As of December 31, 2024, the gross unrealized loss on the Company’s available-for-sale debt securities was $20.7 million, and the aggregate fair value of available-for-sale debt securities with unrealized losses was $370.0 million. The Company currently has the intent and ability to retain these investments, and none of the unrealized losses were due to credit losses.
As of December 31, 2025, the gross unrealized loss on the Company’s available-for-sale debt securities (including available-for-sale securities held at Nelnet Bank) was $16.2 million, and the aggregate fair value of available-for-sale debt securities with unrealized losses was $498.7 million.
As of December 31, 2024, the weighted average estimated variable conversion rate was 5.69% and the short-term interest rate was 499 basis points. 73 AGM is also exposed to interest rate risk in the form of repricing risk and basis risk because the interest rate characteristics of AGM’s assets do not match the interest rate characteristics of the funding for those assets.
See note 6 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included in this report for a summary of fixed-rate floor derivatives. AGM is also exposed to interest rate risk in the form of repricing risk and basis risk because the interest rate characteristics of AGM’s assets do not match the interest rate characteristics of the funding for those assets.
Index Frequency of variable resets Assets Funding of student loan assets 30-day average SOFR (a) Daily $ 7,850,229 — 3-month H15 financial commercial paper Daily 271,536 — 3-month Treasury bill Daily 266,799 — 30-day average SOFR / 1-month CME Term SOFR Monthly — 4,964,666 90-day average SOFR / 3-month CME Term SOFR (a) Quarterly — 1,959,158 Asset-backed commercial paper / SOFR (b) Varies — 853,165 Fixed rate — — 346,359 Auction-rate (c) Varies — 36,395 Other (d) — 794,450 1,023,271 $ 9,183,014 9,183,014 (a) The Company has certain basis swaps outstanding in which the Company receives and pays the term adjusted SOFR plus the tenor spread adjustment to LIBOR (the "1:3 Basis Swaps").
The following table presents AGM’s FFELP student loan assets and related funding for those assets arranged by underlying indices as of December 31, 2025: Index Frequency of variable resets Assets Funding of student loan assets 30-day average SOFR (a) Daily $ 6,971,938 — 3-month Treasury bill Daily 235,241 — 3-month H15 financial commercial paper Daily 230,064 — 30-day average SOFR / 1-month CME Term SOFR Monthly — 5,023,236 90-day average SOFR / 3-month CME Term SOFR (a) Quarterly — 1,424,976 Fixed rate — — 302,791 Asset-backed commercial paper / SOFR (b) Varies — 213,982 Auction-rate (c) Varies — 24,150 Other (d) — 739,504 1,187,612 $ 8,176,747 8,176,747 64 (a) The Company has certain basis swaps outstanding in which the Company receives payments indexed to three-month SOFR and makes payments based on the one-month SOFR index (plus or minus a spread) as defined in the agreements (the "Basis Swaps").